Fernando Alonso has been handed differing advice about whether to go to Mercedes, under♐lining the difficulty of his decision.

Ast♏on Martin driver Alonso is widely reported to be on Toto Wolff's shortlist of drivers who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes i🌃n 2025.

Hamilton's decision to go to Ferrari next year has blown open the driver market and has creat🅠ed an interesting vacancy.

Alonso's Aston Martinꦬ currently use a power unit provided by 🧸Mercedes, who have been in a slump for over two years, but they have a bright future and a partnership with Honda which will begin in 2026.

The potential shown at Lawrence Stroll-owned Aston Martin꧑ means Alonso would not necessarily be at an advantage if he switches to the more historically successful Mercedes, he has been told.

Natalie Pinkham said on the podcast before the Australian Grand Prix: "ꩵHe will be the one who knows the most. He's on the inside. He'll know if they are going in the right direction, for him.

"To l𒀰eave Aston for Mercedes? I would say that'💖s a gamble for Fernando.

"He's not guaranteed to do better ꦕat Mercedes than to stick around at Aston.

"And he's not always made the best decisions ℱin his F1 career!"

Alonso has𓄧 represented Minardi, Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin in his legendary Formula 1 career.

He✨ won two F1 championships at Renault but a move to Ferrari was ill-fated.

Now 42 h✃e is the oldest driver on 💛the grid and has hinted at retirement, although some in the paddock claim that is a classic negotiation tactic to extract the best contract for 2025.

L'Equipe'sౠ Fred Fer♓ret has advised him to take up the chance to go to Mercedes if it comes.

"Of course," he said. "They have the same engine.

"If you move, you alw🦹ays take the team who has the engine. They are building the enಌgine!

"At Mercedes, the problem is not the engine. In the end, they will cope♔ with their chassis. I hope so...

"My name is Fernando Alonso, I have moved si✤x times in 20 years, so I can move a seventh time!"

The intriguing vacancy is at Red Bull.

Should they opt to dispenꦿse with Sergio Perez - or, incredibly, they lose Max Verstappen - then the most dominant car in F1 will require a new driver.

Alonso would then be in the mi🍸x for that chance, too.

Who could Aston Martin replace Alonso with?

"I would more bet on Carlos Sainz to go there, if Fernando🍸 goes to R꧃ed Bull," Ferret claimed.

Sainz has lost h🌸is Ferrari to Hamilton in 2025 and is 🅰without a seat at all next year.